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  • #137565

    NEILRS2K
    Participant

    UK - Scotland

    Posts: 386

    Good morning all,

    On the lookout for a MK3 focus RS in either nitrous blue or frozen white having recently sold my B7 RS4 Avant.

    Not new to the performance ford scene as my previous car before the RS4 was MK2 focus ST3 in electric orange and my pride and joy is a mk2 escort RS2000 in diamond White (currently having a YB cosworth installed)

    Had the RS4 for over 5 years but decided it was time for a change and was initially looking at series 2 lotus Exige S however I wouldn’t get any real use out of this and it would end up sitting in my garage most of the year like the RS2000.

    I started looking at more practical performance cars that would both be fun on a special drive but I could also put my golf clubs in the boot/child in the back if my wife was out in our family car. I work away from home so most of the time the car is tucked away in the garage and not used as a daily driver. Could not see past a fast ford again.

    I am on the lookout for low miles, 1 or 2 owners in nitrous blue or frozen white RS. It must have shell recaro seats and forged 19’s. Not after anything modified however would take mountune 375.

    My first question is around the infotainment system. Is sync 3 a must or is sync 2 perfectly adequate? Is the only difference apple/android play? Or is the sync 3 system a faster more all rounded system?

    Second question is around head gasket recall? Any mk3’s I have looked into so far from delaership’s haven’t had any documentation or invoices to state what work has been done. They have just told me the recall work has been completed. This seems strange to me, is this normal? How can I check what work has been done?

    Anything else I need to be on the lookout for when buying/test driving?

    Thanks for reading a rather long winded intro!

    Cheers, Neil

    #137569

    TubsRs
    Participant

    UK - Scotland

    Posts: 234

    Sync 2 on my Rs  but would like to change to sync 3

    i have sync 3 on my transit its just a better system easier to use in my opinion but sync 2 is fine

    regarding the head gasket recall models bought up to July 17 seemingly only need the recall. but i would have thought that it should be on the ford etis system somewhere about the recall being done on the car.  i certainly have paperwork for mine that i have kept. take your time and find the right one lots for sale out there.

    where in scotland are you. welcome to the forum

    #137570

    coastliner
    Participant

    UK - England

    Posts: 4540

    Well Neil not sure why you want an RS as the other cars you mention are in my opinion better quality than the RS, ok the Lotus is probably not a practical daily but hey ho we all buy what we like. My H/G has been done twice, the first time I didn’t get supporting paperwork but the second time I did. Only done second time because of oil leak. I have sync 3 but not sure how much better it is if at all over sync 2 but its the latest system fitted by Ford so it must be upgraded in some way. I wouldn’t rule out a non- shell seated car as the shell seats are prone to wear on the bolsters. Hope this helps.



    Coastliner

    #137591

    NEILRS2K
    Participant

    UK - Scotland

    Posts: 386

    TubsRS,

    I live in Falkirk mate, what about yourself?

    How long have you owned your RS?

    A lot of the ones I’m looking at, 2016 plates, have sync 2 fitted and just wanted to see if that would be a deal breaker. By the sounds of it not really. My RS4 didn’t have much in the way of infotainment so I’m used to that.

    Seems as though most of the ones I’ve looked at don’t have paperwork but I guess I can check prior to purchase with ford directly to confirm what has been done?

    Cheers, Neil

     

    #137592

    GM
    Participant

    UK - Wales

    Posts: 2841

    Welcome Neil ?

    Think the guys have covered allot, but i wouldn’t rule out a slightly modified from 1st owner or something down that road… 2 guy’s i know heavily modded their RS’s one with stock internals, and one had 3 engine changes. Both returned to stock and sold on!

    my 17 plate has no paperwork from HG but i got them to write and sign it in the service book as was carried out with second service.

    #137594

    NEILRS2K
    Participant

    UK - Scotland

    Posts: 386

    Coastliner,

    Guess it’s hard to explain really. For me, my car has to be exciting both to drive and to look at parked up in the garage. When I think about golf R’s, Audi S3’s, BMW M2’s they just don’t give me any kind of excitement although undoubtedly they are all better cars. Maybe because where I live there are loads of the above mentioned cars on PCP deals that I now don’t bat an eyelid at them.

    What made you buy an RS over a golf R, an S3 or similar?

    I have found myself looking at them but they really don’t excite me.

    As for the lotus, it would have been great and I was close to pulling the trigger on one but when you take a step back and look at what your paying close to £30k for it really isn’t much. A plastic car with a Toyota engine that you are afraid to take anywhere for fear of it being damaged. It would inevitably sit in the garage for 340 days a year. I already have another car that does that. When I think about what I would rather have a blast on a summers evening the MK2 escort wins hands down.

    I needed to replace my RS4 with something with performance, a bit of drama but still airing on the side of practical.

    Everyone is different I guess though

    Cheers, Neil

    #137597

    coastliner
    Participant

    UK - England

    Posts: 4540

    Neil I completely understand your thoughts and response to my advice. I began my car life purchasing Vauxhalls Viva Gt, Droop snoot Firenza, Magnum 2300 and later on a GTE Astra, none of those cars would be worth anything like for example an Escort Mexico, even though in my view they were equally competent and pleasing to own and look at. So times many have I regretted going down the Vauxhall route, the clubs car shows and owners forums are not a patch on the Ford one’s. And the supply of spares equally not as plentiful. So I decided to jump ship and purchased a Mk2 in 2010 brand new, from that car I purchased a Mk3 which has been into the workshop with issues more than all the cars I have ever owned. Do I regret my purchase? certainly not, I am in it for the long haul at least 6 years and possibly more. We have a Mini sport Cooper S 2019 with virtually every option that can be added including auto park assist, the Mini is a far better built and screwed together car than my Focus, but gets no where near the same attention.



    Coastliner

    #137665

    TubsRs
    Participant

    UK - Scotland

    Posts: 234

    Stay near Kirkintilloch Neil. My Rs is on a 16 plate had it since new. if you want to know anything else just ask happy to help out.

    #137669

    Ukjon
    Participant

    United Kingdom

    Posts: 195

    Personally I think the CS seats bit of a disappointment. Look the part, but not as supportive as the standard Recaros.

    If you come across a car modified by Mountune with the work done at their HQ, then you can’t go wrong.

    Regards

    #137674

    NEILRS2K
    Participant

    UK - Scotland

    Posts: 386

    That’s interesting regards the seats. My RS4 had wingback buckets and I thought they were great although there was more adjustability in those ones than you get in an RS.

    Just waiting on the right one coming up.

    Thanks, Neil

    #137677

    71-bda
    Participant

    UK - England

    Posts: 8698

    depends on your build Neil regarding the seats, lean tallish folk probably fit the STd  recaros with their bulkier bolsters, the Shell seats have a bit more width across the thighs so do not squeeze so much if you have manly thighs, also the kidney area on the STd seats is tight compared to the shells and I found them pressing around the waist continually a bit of a chore, so really I think its tall and lean… get the STd seats, and manly build ( over 13 stone and under 6 ft 1″) then the Shells are the ones to go for ! Just be careful of  the bolster wear getting in and out of the CS.



    No nothing.

    No Mods. No rockers. Just a chunky knob, thats now been replaced by an RS knob innit.

    No tackiness.

    Std as Ford intended, but with a space saver wheel and jack and nuts and wheel brace. oh.. and flaps, a man has got to have flaps.

    Innit?

     

    #137683

    Ukjon
    Participant

    United Kingdom

    Posts: 195

    @71 bda – good point!

    Er – looks like I am in the not very manly camp ?

    Regards

    #137696

    71-bda
    Participant

    UK - England

    Posts: 8698

    ha ha Jon, I think a lot of us more middle aged spread/resting muscle types envy those that can fit in an STd seat and not be a tight fit ! so enjoy the slimness while you have it !



    No nothing.

    No Mods. No rockers. Just a chunky knob, thats now been replaced by an RS knob innit.

    No tackiness.

    Std as Ford intended, but with a space saver wheel and jack and nuts and wheel brace. oh.. and flaps, a man has got to have flaps.

    Innit?

     

    #137697

    DaveRS3
    Participant

    United Kingdom

    Posts: 1386

    Im a fat fooker and I love the nice and tight std seats.

    #137699

    paul-m
    Participant

    UK - England

    Posts: 646

    Same here Dave.

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